National Fathers Day vigils make a mark (Pt2)

“Yesterday I attended the Father’s Day Vigil for those in the Midlands area who have died in Police Custody in collaboration with the Midlands community, The United Family and Friends Campaign, Birmingham Strong4Justice and 4WardEver UK.

“Some of those who have deceased were not yet fathers but we cannot underestimate the supportive and protective role males play within our families and communities, not to mention the pain and anguish the bereaved families have to endure. As a parent you never expect to bury a child or expect to have to endure the enormity of your prematurely aborted hopes, dreams and aspirations for your children in such a manner.

“For the families who have had their loved ones die in Custody they do not have any such consolation, having to endure years of grief with unexplained circumstances, botched investigations, failure to notify family members their loved ones have dead, delays in the release of loved ones for burial further adding to the pain and injustice…not to mention failure in conviction even when there has been a verdict of unlawful killing.”

File on 4: Police Restraint (recording)Inquests in England are increasingly hearing a new term to explain deaths in police custody: Excited Delirium. It’s a diagnosis with origins in the United States.

About the author

Zinzi Eka-Naphtali has been a volunteer with 4WardEver UK since 2007/2008. She assists with researching information and submitting them for inclusion on the website, and manages other on-line resources developed by 4WardEver and its associate organisations.
4WardEver UK was launched in 2006 by Tippa Naphtali the cousin of Mikey Powell, who died in the custody of West Midlands police, Birmingham, UK in September 2003.